Developer-processor for photographic web material



Q 3111967 J. 5. GOLDHAMMER 3,349,687

EVELOPER-PROCESSOR FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC WEB MATERIAL Filed May 8,- 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JEROME S. GOLDHAMMER I N VEN TOR. m

- AGENT.

Oct. 31, 1967 J. GOLDHAMMER 3,

DEVELOPER-PROCESSOR FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC WEB MATERIALv v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8 1964 JEROME S.GOLDHAMMER INVENTOR 8Y9? AGE N I.

Oct. 31. 1967 J. s. GOLDHAMMER 3,349,687

DEVELOPER-PROCESSOR FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC WEB MATERIAL Filed May 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I48 4 IL *1 m 4 l 4J' E I58 JEROME s. GOLDHAMMER INVENTOR. 4 H BY 9'8 1- /60 1:

United States Patent Ofiice 3,349,687 Eatented Oct. 31, 1967 Fiied May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 366,053 9 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) This invention relates generally to photographic processing apparatus and more particularly to a combination developer-processor utilizing the web technique of processing. The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85568 (72 Stat. 426; 42 U.S.C. 2451), as amended.

In web processing of photographic materials, a carrier web or strip of material coated or saturated with processing chemicals is brought into mating contact with exposed photographic material to effect the application of the chemicals to the material. Ordinarily the processing chemicals utilized are low viscosity aqueous solutions to facilitate saturation of the web material. Dependent both upon the composition of the photographic material and the par ticular processing chemicals employed, the chemical saturated web may either be left in contact with the photographic material and stored on a reel, or alternately stripped away from the photographic material after processing is completed. The inventive apparatus is of the latter variety, that is, apparatus where the processing web is stripped away from the photographic material after completion of processin A number of advantages are inherently available when photographic materials are processed utilizing saturated web materials to effect the application of processing chemicals. These advantages are increased in number when the processing chemicals utilized are monobaths. Monobaths, as their name implies, are a single solution or bath containing both developing and fixing agents or, less frequently, developing and stabilizing agents. One advantage of monobaths is that they are self-regulating in character; that is, the application of the single monobath solution to an exposed photographic emulsion automatically completes the processing of the emulsion and continued exposure to the monobath has no further effect on the emulsion. Another and further advantage of monobaths is realized because of the simultaneous nature of the developing-fixing reaction which presents minimal process environment control requirements.

The advantages of monobath saturated web processing methods become apparent when the mechanicalenvironment requirements of that method are compared with those of other monobath application methods. Without setting forth in detail the comparison of these methods, it is sufiicient to say that for most applications the monobath saturated web processing method is the most simple and reliable method available because of its reduced or eliminated requirements for complex and expensive accessories. Among those accessories needed in other monobath application methods and not needed with the saturated web application method are: applicators involving fine slits or aperture subject to clogging, squeegees, solution chambers with complex seals, pumps and agitators, contoured application rollers, and many more. Because processing apparatus utilizing monobath saturated webs can omit these accessories, its electrical power requirements are substantially reduced. Generally the only power required is for the relative small amount of torque needed to effect web-film drive and for heating. From the foregoing, it can be seen that processors employing saturated web materials should be simple and uncomplex with attendant high reliability and low maintenance, and with reduced operator attention and skill requirements. However, despite the possibility of advantage inherent in Web monobath processing of photographic materials, no versatile, inexpensive apparatus to exploit these advantages has been generally available.

Accordingly it is a general object of thi invention to provide new and improved developer-processor apparatus particularly useful for effecting the web processing of photographic materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved developer-processor apparatus for web processing of photographic materials that is less complex and more reliable than equipment heretofore available.

Another and important object of this invention is to provide new and improved developer-processor apparatus for web processing of photographic material that is both simple to operate and lower in cost than other contemporary processing apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide new and improved developer-processor apparatus for the web processing of photographic materials that provides an uncomplex power feed for both the processing material and the photographic materials to be processed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new and improved developer-processor apparatus for the web monobath processing of photographic materials that combines means for maintaining a nearly ideal temperature environment for effecting the photographic processing while at the same time providing separate and compatible means for effecting the drying of the processed photo graphic material.

In accordance with a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, these and other objects are attained in the novel developer-processor apparatus of the invention. The inventive apparatus provide light-tight means for affixing a supply cassette of exposed photographic film thereto. The processor provides means for continuously feeding the exposed photographic film from the supply cassette to a processing station where it is brought into mating engagement with saturated web processing material. After a predetermined time, the spent web material is separated from the now processed photographic film and conducted to a storage spool. After removal of the web material, the processed film is dried and then passed to a take-up film spool. While the various features of novelty are pointed out with particularity in the claims appended to and forming a part of this specification, for a better understanding of the invention and its advantages, reference is had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which are illustrated and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the inventive apparatus with a light sealing door hinged open and partially broken away to reveal the equipment therein;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the inventive apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, partially schematic in form, of the drive train employed in the inventive apparatus; and

FIGURE 4 is an electrical schematic showing the interconnection of the various electrical systems of the in vention.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the developer-processor apparatus of the invention. As there shown a light-tight housing 10, comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped encloses and supports the inventive apparatus. A door 13, hinged to housing 10 provides a light-tight closure of the housing during operation of the inventive processor and permits access to the interior thereof to facilitate both the threading of photographic and processing materials and any maintenance and cleaning required of the processor itself. Door 13 is shown open and broken away in FIGURE 1 to facilitate the illustration of the interior of the processor.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a cassette mounting plate 12 secured to housing provides a means for affixing a supply cassette containing exposed photographic materials. Mounting plate 12 is provided with a recessed tortuous passage light lock to effect a light seal between the supply cassette and the inventive apparatus when the cassette is secured to the apparatus. Since light locks of this type are conventional in character and well known to those versed in the photographic arts, the details of the light lock itself and the complementary cassette design are not further described here. However, the supply cassette shown in phantom outline at 14 in both FIGURES l and 2 advantageously includes on its lower mating surface an interlocking flange-like extension which mates with a corresponding recess in adapter plate 12 to enable it to be secured to mounting plate 12 by means of a single pivotable retaining latch such as shown at 16. Latch 16 is shown in its latched position in FIGURE 1 and in dotted outline in its unlatched position in FIGURE 2. By suitable proportioning and contouring of both latch 16 and adapter plate 12, advantage is taken of friction therebetween to provide a detent-like retention of the latch in the cassette retaining position.

As described above, in utilizing the web technique to effect the processing of photographic material or film, the exposed material is processed by sandwiching it with web material that has been impregnated with a photographic processing solution. This sandwiching of the eX- posed photographic material and processing web is continuously achieved during operation of the inventive apparatus when exposed film or other photographic material 18 is passed therethrough. As shown, the exposed film 18 moving in the direction of the several arrows 20, enters the inventive apparatus from supply cassette 14. The film is threaded past idler rollers 22 and 24 to engage developer drum 26 around which it is wrapped emulsion side out.

A processing solution saturated web 28 stored on supply spool 30 is fed from the supply spool in the direction of arrows 32 over idler rollers 34 and 36 toward developer drum 26. The web is brought into sandwiching engagement with film 18 on the developer drum by the action of pressure roller 38. Pressure roller 38 is spring biased in the direction of arrow 40 to press the web against the exposed photographic material 18. Because the film is wound on drum 26 emulsion side out, the saturated web adheres to the film due both to the adhesive forces of the wet film emulsion and also due to the capillary action of the processing material between the emulsion and the web material.

A drive roller 42 and take-up spools 44 and 50 are all positively driven in the inventive embodiment by apparatus described subsequently in connection with FIGURES 2 and 3. The effect of this drive is to advance the film and web through the inventive processor apparatus and thereby effect the rotation of free-wheeling developer drum 26. As developer drum 26 is rotated, the web material is maintained in contact with the exposed photographic film on the drum over an angular travel of the drum of approximately 285. At this point, the spent processing web material is separated from the drum and the now processed photographic film and guided over idler rollers 46 and 48 to be stored on web take-up spool 50.

After the spent web material is stripped from the processed photographic film, the film continues its travel on developer drum 26 for approximately 10 more degrees of angular travel. The film is then guided from the developer drum by being passed, in sequence, over idler rollers 52 and 54 to pressure roller 56. The film is wrapped in serpentine fashion in sequence over the pressure roller 56,

around drive roller 42 and between pressure roller 58. Because of the resilient characteristics employed in the construction of drive roller 42, pressure rollers 56 and 53 are maintained thereagainst. It is an advantageous feature of the invention that by virtue of the location of this drive roller-pressure roller combination in the plane of the outer Wall of housing 10 that in addition to performing their principal drive function, they are enabled to perform the function of a light lock and prevent the entrance of light to the interior of the housing 10 at the point where he processed film emerges. Light shield 57 shown partially broken away for illustration purposes and a similar shield 59, not illustrated but located exterior of housing 10, cooperate with the rollers in achieving the light lock. After emerging from the light lock the processed film is wound upon take-up spool 44.

It is a feature of the invention that the processed film is dried after processing and before being wound on take-up spool 44. This drying is accomplished by exposing the wet emulsion side of the processed film to warmed circulating air as it is advanced past a plenum chamber. As may be appreciated, it is desirable for the purpose of effecting complete drying, that the film be exposed to the drying air for as long a time as possible. However, at the same time, care must be taken to prevent undue leakag of the drying air through the processing area where it could cause premature drying of the web processing material before it is sandwiched with exposed film. This combination of long drying path and low air leakage is advantageously realized by use of a novel wedge shaped drying air containing plenum 60 having two open sides and by utilizing the film to be dried to self-close these two sides. The other three sides of plenum 60 are fixed and comprise, respectively, the back wall 62 of housing 10, a generally vertical upstanding wall 64 and an end cover 66 shown partially broken away to reveal the interior of the plenum.

Air enters the plenum chamber 60 by means of two cylindrical conduits 68 and 70 each having one end open and having the open end extending through the rear wall 62 of housing 18 to communicate with an exterior plenum 11.8 to be described subsequently. Each of the two cylindrical conduits 68 and '70, contains an exit slit from which air passed from plenum 118 emerges into plenum 60. Suitable positioning of the exit slits in each of the cylindrical air conduits enhances the drying action achieved. It has generally been found that orientating the slit at an angle of approximately 75 with respect to the film yields a maximum drying effect. Air entering the two cylindrical conduits is passed over a resistive type heating element axially contained therein. Thus heated the air emerges in plenum 60 where it impinges upon the moving film to effect its drying. While the heaters in the two cylindrical conduits may be individually or collectively, thermostatically controlled, it has generally been found that simple on/ off switching under operator control provides adequate control without requiring unnecessary complications. The actual control of the heating element however is in any event conventional and since such controls are well known and form no part of this invention they are not considered further herein. The moisture laden air is conducted from plenum 60 by means of a vent tube 72 extending rearwardly through plenum 118.

In developing photographic film as in many other types of chemical reaction, reaction rate and quality of the finished product are temperature dependent. Thus, where it is an objective to obtain consistent, high quality results in processing of the photographic film, it is necessary to provide a temperature controlled environment. In the inventive developer-processor apparatus, this controlled temperature environment, is achieved by the use of thermostatically controlled heaters assembled within the rotating developer drum 26. In embodiments constructed to date, the heaters have taken the form of a resistive type heating element assembled into a heating blanket of a type well known to those versed in the electrical heating art. This heating blanket is affixed to the interior surface of the hollow developer drum 26 and is supplied with current by means of a conventional brush-slip ring assembly mounted exterior of the processing chamber. Unlike the requirements for control of the drying air heaters, it has been found that the temperature control of the developer drum requires closer monitoring than practicable with an operator. Hence, the drum temperature is controlled by bi-metal type thermostats located interior of the drum.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the developer-processor apparatus shown in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 supplements FIGURE 2 and shows in perspective and in greater detail than FIGURE 2, the drive mechanism employed for advancing the photographic and web materials through the developer-processor under the impetus of drive motor 74. Motor 74 may be of any suitable type, both AC induction motor types and DC motors have been employed with obvious corresponding variations in input power requirements or circuitry, or both. A right angle speed reduction gear drive output from the motor comprised of pinion gear 76 afiixed to the motor output shaft and meshing with spiral bevel gear 78 transmits the motor output torque to the drive mechanism. Spiral bevel gear 78 is fixedly pinned to shaft 82 to which is affixed drive gear 80. Drive gear 80 is meshed with clutch gear 84 which is pivotally mounted for rotation about shaft 92. Because of the relatively low wet strength of the saturated web processing material, it is desirable invention that this jerking is prevented by transmitting driving torque to the drive mechanism through the yield ing clutch arrangement generally indicated as 91.

Clutch gear 84 advantageously provides the input to yielding clutch 91. Gear 84 is retained on shift 92 by collar 108 secured to the shaft by pin 110. A flange like pressure plate 86 upstanding from the hub 87 of clutch gear 84 provides reaction force against a friction disc 88 by means of a Belleville spring washer 106 interposed therebetween. The tension of spring washer 106 is adjusted so that the clutch 91 transmits the steady state torque outputs of motor 74 but slips at a higher torque. Friction disc 88 bearing against one side of double pulley 90 transmits the rotational torque of the motor to the pulley. Pulley 90 is secured to shaft 92 so that motor torque is yieldingly coupled to that shaft. Rubber film drive roller 42 is securedly aflixed to shaft 92 and hence when the drive me hanism is actuated this roller turns double pulley 90 transmits driving force to the processp spool 50. Specifically, belt 94 is passed over pulley 96 afiixed to the web take-up spool shaft 98. A second spring belt 100 is assembled over the second pulley of double spring pulley 90 and over pulley 102 affixed to shaft 104 to transmit driving force thereto. Shaft 104 is the drive shaft for film take-up spool 44. Pulley 102 is provided with conventional spool drive lugs to effect the drive of spool 44. Because spring belts are used interconnecting shafts 92 and 98 and 92 and 104, variations in required speed of the take-up reels to comply with the constant speed of drive roller 42 as the diameter of material wound on the reels increases, are automatically effected through belt slippage; that is, pulley diameters are chosen to drive the spools as fast as required to effect take-up when the spools are empty and the belts slip increasing amounts as material is wound onto the spools.

To protect the drive gears and belts from dirt and possible mechanical interference, a housing 112 is provided thereabout. Housing 112 completely covers drive motor 74 and its entire associated gear and spring belt drive train. The housing is broken away in FIGURE 2 to illustrate the orientation of take-up spring belts 94 and and to permit visual comparisons between FIGURES 2 and 3.

Air to effect the drying of the wet processed photographic film is supplied by centrifugal blower 114 driven by motor 116. To prevent inadvertent overheating of any of the various heaters or process materials located interior of the processor such as might occur if heat where turned on and air circulation was not maintained, blower motor 116 is advantageously operated at all times power is applied to the unit. The output air of blower 114 is conducted to plenum chamber 118 which in turn supplies the two entrance air conduits 68 and 70 illustrated in FIG- URE 1. Air return is accomplished through vent 72 which extends through plenum chamber 118 and terminates in a noise reducer-light lock cap 120 through which the output moisture laden air is passed to the ambient surroun As shown the inventive a paratus does not provide for complished by coupling the output air of vent tube 72 to the input of centrifugal blower 114 through an appropriate moisture absorbing apparatus. Such apparatus conventionally is a simple cylindrical member filled with silica jell or equivalent hydrophilic material and proving a substantially axial air passage therethrough. By utilizing such a recirculating arrangement it is posible to operate the inventive apparatus in a completely airless ambient surround and still effect the controlled processing and drying of photographic film. In one embodiment constructed employing such a recirculation of the drying medium, nitrogen has been employed to enable the attainment of additional advantages realized when oxygen is prevented from reaching any of the processing materials. Photographic processing materials are all quite highly oxidizable.

The processor is coupled to a power source by a pendant cable 122 which terminates in a conventional connector 124. The other termination of cable 122 is at control panel 126 on which are located four switches utilized for control of the illustrated inventive embodiment. Specifically, one switch 128 controls the on/off and temperature range selection of the heat applied to developer drum 26. Switches 130 and 132 control the heaters axially mounted inside of entrance air conduits 68 and 70, respectively. Switch 134 controls operation of main drive motor 74 which effects the transport of saturated web materials and photographic film through the inventive apparatus. Not shown in the figures are the various interconnecting cables mounted interior of housing 10 and connecting the several switches and their associated apparatus. Housing 136 encloses the conventional brush slip-ring combination described above and utilized to supply power to the thermostatically controlled heater interior of developer drum 26.

To facilitate uniform application of web processing material to the photographic film to be processed, a drag clutch operating against the web supply spool is axially mounted on the spool shaft. Adjustment of this drag clutch is effected by operation of clutch knob 138 shown in FIGURE 2. By adjusting the drag on the web supply spool it is possible to maintain the web taut between the supply spool and the developer drum, and smoothly effect the application of the web to the film.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the electrical interconnections employed in the inventive apparatus. Specifically, a threephase AC supply applied to connector 124 provides the necessary power input. For maximum efiiciency it has been found desirable to employ a three phase blower motor 116. This three phase motor is directly connected across the three input supply leads without switching to maintain the fail-safe overheat protection described above. Connected from one phase of the AC line to ground are the three heaters employed in the processor. Heaters 140 and 142 controlled by switches 130 and 132 are mounted inside of the entrance air conduits 68 and 70, respectively. Thermostats 144 and 146 for controlling the temperature of the output air from the air heaters are shown in phantom as connected in series in each of the air heater supply circuits. The air heater thermostats are shown in phantom since in the majority of inventive embodiments thermostatic heat control has not been found necessary. When the thermostats are not used, air heat control is maintained by operator selection of none, one, or two heater operation of the processor. Pilot lights 162 and 164 indicate the operation of the heaters 140 and 142 which they parallel, respectively.

As indicated developer drum heat control switch 128 is operable between three separate switch positions with its center position being off. The two on switch positions select different thermostats which are in series with heating blanket 148 located interior of developer drum 26. The two thermostats 150 and 152 are preset at different temperature levels to control developer drum tem perature at the preset levels. By employing two different preset thermostats, a degree of flexibility in process temperature control is achieved while simultaneously effecting precise control without the necessity of a precise operator setting.

Capacitor 154 provides arc suppression during repetitive closings of the thermostat contacts. Pilot light 156 indicates the on condition of the heating blanket 148. Main drive motor 74 is connected between a leg of the three phase AC supply and ground, and is controlled by operation of switch 134. While mot-or 74 is schematically indicated as a commutator motor, as described above it may be of any suitable type. Pilot lamp 158 paralleling main drive motor 74 indicates its operation and capacitor 160 in series with the switch 134 provides arc suppression for the contacts of the switch when that switch is opened.

In the foregoing description of the illustrative inventive embodiment, reference has repeatedly been made to photographic film. Such reference is only intended to be exemplary since obviously all other flexible photographic materials available in strip form could be processed in the described apparatus. Further, while the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that variations and modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such variation and modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Web processing apparatus for effecting the development of photographic materials comprising housing means,

cassette mounting means affixed to said housing means,

developer drum means mounted interior of said housing means,

means interior of said housing for storing rocessing web material,

first guide means for conducting photographic material and processing web material to said drum means and for effecting sandwiching engagement of said materials thereon,

second guide means for stripping spent processing web material from said photographic material,

drive means for advancing along predetermined paths from said drum means said photographic material and spent processing web material,

plenum means interposed in said predetermined path of said'photographic material from said drum means, said plenum means having one or more sides open and adapted to be closed by said photographic material to effect the impingement of drying air on said photographic material, and

blower means for effecting the supply of air to said plenum means.

2. Web processing apparatus for effecting the development of photographic film comprising light tight housing means, mounting means for affixing a photographic film containing cassette to said housing means, rotatable developer drum means mounted interior of said housing means, spool means interior of said housing for supplying processing web material, first guide means for conducting photographic film and processing web material to said drum means and for effecting their sandwiching engagement thereon, storage means for receiving spent processing web material, second guide means for stripping spent processing Web material from processed photographic material and conducting said spent web material to said first storage means, drive means including drive motor means for advancing along predetermined paths from said drum means said photographic film and said spent processing web material, plenum means interposed in said predetermined path of said photographic film from said drum means, said plenum means comprising one or more open sides positioned to be closed by advancing processed photographic film to thereby efiect the impingement of drying air on the photographic film, said plenum means further comprising vent means for effecting the exhaust from said plenum means of moisture laden air, and blower means for effecting the supply of drying air to said plenum means. 3. In web processing apparatus for effecting the development of photographic materials a light tight housing means having an access door therein, means for admitting photographic material to the interior of said houisng means, rotatable developer drum means mounted interior of said housing means, means for maintaining said drum means at a constant temperature, means interior of said housing for supporting a processing web supply spool for rotation thereabout, first guide means for conducting photographic material and processing web material to said drum means and for effecting mating engagement of said materials thereon, storage means mounted interior of said housing and adapted to receive spent processing web material, second guide means for stripping spent processing web material from said photognaphic material and conducting said spent web material to said first storage means, drive means comprising drive roller means for advancing said photographic material and separate means for advancing said spent processing web material and effecting its storage on said storage means, wedge-shaped plenum means interior of said housing and interposed in the path of said photographic materials, said plenum means having one or more open sides positioned to be closed by said advancing photographic material to thereby effect the impingement of drying ai-r thereon, vent means for effecting the exhaust of moisture laden air from said plenum means, and blower and heater means for selectively effecting the supply of heated drying air to said plenum means. 4. In web processing apparatus for effecting the development of photographic film.

a light tight housing having an access door therein, means for admitting photographic film to the interior of said housing means,

rotatable developer drum means mounted interior of said housing means,

spool means for storing processing web material interior of said housing,

first guide means for conducting photographic film and processing web material to said drum means and for effecting their sandwiching engagement thereon,

first rotatable storage spool means mounted interior of said housing and adapted to receive spent processing web material,

second guide means for stripping spent processing web material from said photographic material and conducting said spent Web material to said first storage spool means,

second rotatable storage spool means for receiving processed photographic material,

drive means comprising drive roller means for advancing said photographic film around said drum and means for rotating said first and said second storage spool means thereby to advance and effect the storage of said spent processing Web material and said processed photographic film,

wedge-shaped plenum means interposed between said developer drum means and said second storage spool means, said plenum means having one or more open sides positioned to be closed by said advancing photographic film to thereby effect the impingement of drying air thereon,

vent means for effecting the exhaust of moisture laden air from said plenum means,

blower and heater means for effecting the supply of heated drying air to said plenum means, and

moisture absorbing means connected in series between said vent means and said bl-ower means.

5. Web processing apparatus in accord with claim 4 wherein said drive means further comprises motor means coupled in series thru yielding clutch means and spring belt means to said first and said second s-torage means.-

6. Web processing apparatus in accord with claim 4 wherein said drive means further comprises motor means series coupled to said drive roller means and through spring belt means to said first and said second storage spool means.

7. Web processing apparatus in accord with claim 6 further comprising heater means positioned interior of said developer drum and adapted to maintain the surface thereof at a preselected temperature.

8. Apparatus for processing photosensitive material comprising light tight housing means,

means for admitting photosensitive material to the interior of said housing means,

rotatable developer drum means mounted interior of said housing means,

means for storing processing web material interior of said housing means,

guide means for effecting the sandwiching engagement of photosensitive material and processing web material on said developer drum means and for stripping processing Web material from said photosensitive material after the processing thereof,

film drying plenum means located interior of said housing means and having one or more open sides adapted to be closed by photosensitive material to effect the impingement of drying air thereon, and

drive means for effecting the transport of photosensitive material and processing web material in sandwiching engagement upon said developer drum, and for effecting the transport of photosensitive material across said open sides of said film drying plenum means.

9. Apparatus for comprising alight tight housing means,

mounting means for admitting photosensitive material to the interior of said housing means,

rotatable developer drum means mounted interior of said :housing means,

spool means for storing processing Web material interior of said housing means,

guide means for effecting the sandwiching engagement of photosensitive material and processing Web material on said developer drum means and for stripping spent processing web material from said photosensitive material after the processing thereof,

separate storage means for processed photosensitive material and spent processing web material,

film drying plenum means located interior of said housing means and having one or more sides open and adapted to be closed by said photosensitive material to effect the impingement of drying air thereon, and

drive means for advancing photosensitive material and processing web material to said separate storage means and for effecting the transport of said photosensitive material across the open sides of said film drying plenum means.

processing photosensitive materials References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,245 9/1953 Tondreau -89 2,930,302 3/1960 Tuttle v 95-89 3,041,952 7/1962 Schreck 95-89 3,179,517 4/1965 'Iregillus 95-89 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. CLIFFORD B. PRICE, Examiner. J. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. WEB PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPRISING HOUSING MEANS, CASSETTE MOUNTING AFFIXED TO SAID HOUSING MEANS, DEVELOPER DRUM MEANS MOUNTED INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING MEANS, MEANS INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING FOR STORING PROCESSING WEB MATERIAL, FIRST GUIDE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND PROCESSING WEB MATERIAL TO SAID DRUM MEANS AND FOR EFFECTING SANDWICHING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID MATERIALS THEREON, SECOND GUIDE MEANS FOR STRIPPING SPENT PROCESSING WEB MATERIAL FROM SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, DRIVE MEANS FOR ADVANCING ALONG PREDETERMINED PATHS FROM SAID DRUM MEANS SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND SPENT PROCESSING WEB MATERIAL, PLENUM MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID PREDETERMINED PATH OF SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM SAID DRUM MEANS, SAID PLENUM MEANS HAVING ONE OR MORE SIDES OPEN AND ADAPTED TO BE CLOSED BY SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TO EFFECT THE IMPINGEMENT OF DRYING AIR ON SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, AND BLOWER MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE SUPPLY OF AIR TO SAID PLENUM MEANS. 